BIGBANG’s TAEYANG, Frank and Simple Based on Musical Pride… “RINGA LINGA”
[서울 뉴시스 이재훈 기자] World-popular boy band BIGBANG’s member TAEYANG (25, birth name Dong Young Bae) is a competent idol star.
He started performing as a solo singer with his first mini alum “Only Look At Me” in 2008, and in 2009, he received prizes for the best R&B soul album and best song, at the 6th Korea Music Awards, where “best musicians” are selected.
His first full solo album “Solar” in 2010 was also well received. He was even selected as the one with the biggest potential among idol stars, in a newspaper’s survey on 20 experts.
Consequently, TAEYANG’s new solo music “RINGA LINGA”, which was released on the 8, three years after the first full solo album, has come under the spotlight. The song lived up to the high expectation, being ranked in the No.1 places in the real-time charts of major music-streaming sites such as Olleh and Naver Music. It also topped the iTunes charts of five countries: Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Macao, not only on the release date.
“RINGA LINGA” was composed by TAEYANG’s 13-year-long friend G-DRAGON (25), who is another member of BIGBANG, jointly with a foreign songwriter. It is a hip-hop music with a rhythmical and strong rap, as well as a sophisticated melody line, which expresses TAEYANG’s flagship vocal and feels his hip-hop swag at the same time. Its straightforward and provocative lyrics are impressive.
The song has rather an unfamiliar style that cannot be usually seen from TAEYANG, who has presented mostly R&B music for his solo performance.
Notably, he is recognized as the best in expressing African-American music, among not only idol singers but also all Korean singers. He gave the opening performance for American R&B singer Alicia Keys (32)’s concert in Korea in 2008 and performed as a guest artist for American singer-songwriter Brian McNight (44)’s concert in Korea in 2010.
“RINGA LINGA” is away from the melodic and emotional code which could be seen from my previous songs. I wanted to show a different feel. I made efforts to newly develop the feels that I used for the prior album and to widen my musical spectrum.”
“RINGA LINGA” is the starting point for TAEYANG’s second full solo album which will be released in early 2014. “If my previous albums had only one color, the new album will be colorful, made up of different elements. In the album, my color becomes exquisite.”
The title “RINGA LINGA” came from the lyrics of a children’s song, “RINGA LINGA”. “Just like the children’s song RINGA LINGA, my song is about inviting all people to dance together. Its rhythm is exotic, but the melody and lyrics have a strong Korean feel. I believe Korean things are nice. I thought Korea’s own traditions like twirling a sangmo are cool and nice.”
Before TAEYANG, other BIG BANG members SEUNGRI (23) and G-DRAGON (25, birth name Gwon Ji Yong) performed as solo artists, too.
“SEUNGRI, Ji Yong, and I alike have distinct individualities and characters. It is the same for DAE SUNG and T.O.P., too. So, when all the five members come together, a synergy effect is created, I think. I have the strongest color for R&B and hip-hop. That is why people who like my albums usually listen to African-American music and hip-hop.”
However, TAEYANG likes all genres of music. “I personally like African-American music, but I also listen to a pop and rock a lot. The genre of music is not all when I like it. It’s about the style, atmosphere, and feel. I like extensive sound, something like Cold Play. I did not confine myself to a certain genre when I was working on my second album. So far, I worked on the songs with the feel I like, even though their genre is different from what I’ve done so far. So, you will be able to feel a variety of genres in my new album.”
TAEYANG is also a talented dancer and he did his best for the choreography of the new song. The choreographer is Parris Goebel, the leader of “Request Crew”, a dance crew who has won the World Hip Hop Dance Championship. In the past, TAEYANG’s dance movements were closely linked to the song’s melody and lyrics, but the dance for the new song feels freer and more hip-hop.
TAEYANG has sung songs written mostly by G-DRAGON. Some say that “RINGA LINGA” feels more like G-DRAGON, rather than TAEYANG’s existing color. “Ji Yong has been producing all the music of BIGBANG so far. I just expressed my part in my own style, so that was not a different work. However, I understand that fans who like the soul of my previous songs are somewhat surprised. But, personally, I wanted that this album could inspire more people than just my existing fans.”
That is because TAEYANG’s goal is to show an improved capability as an artist. “Ji Yong has the popular code and that’s his advantage. I tried to accept such advantage. Now only one song has been released and I think the response to my album will be different when people listen to all the songs in the new album.”
The experience from numerous trips for the past three years echo in TAEYANG’s new album. “The reason why I took so many trips was to build relationships with more musicians. It was fun to meet producers who I have always wanted to meet and produce an album with them.”
Another reason is because he has been working so hard without a break, since he made debut as a member of BIGBANG in 2006. “One day, I felt that I was forgetting how to enjoy music. I came to enjoy music again through those trips. I realized that being with a good music itself makes me happy. In the past, I couldn’t listen to music much, because I was too busy. While I was traveling, I listened to music as much as I wanted and came to know that there is so much good music in the world.”
TAEYANG is one of the few idol stars who let off a sex appeal only with his/her own music. His solo concert in 2010 had two different versions, adults only and G-rated, and in the former version of the concert, he staged sex-appealing performance. “I tend to like music with sex-appealing code. So I think my performance has such a feel. I also like primitive and powerful choreography. I’m not doing it deliberately. Haha.”
Even though he is performing alone after a long break, he seems to be more care-free. “Previously, solo performance was an outlet through which I could express myself, but as time went by, I came to feel more fun in performing as BIGBANG. Ji Yong feels that way, too. When I’m alone, it’s hard to endure the waiting time. When all the five members are together, time flies as we talk and make jokes. After laughing with the other members like that, I have greater energy on the stage, too.”
TAEYANG, a young man, seems to care more about his music than to relationship. “I had an in-depth conversation with senior singer Shin Seung Hoon as I encountered him at hair salon about four months ago. Fortunately, he liked me. I asked him if he was married and he gave the answer that was similar to my thoughts. At that time, I was thinking that a life as an artist cannot go with a married life. Shin’s answer was similar to that thought. Frankly, I’m not that favorable to marriage. But it will be different if I fall in love. Haha.”
As he is well-received as a solo artist, he may feel pressure about the success of his second full solo album. “Frankly speaking, I want to be evaluated as what I am now. If I try to improve continuously, I can’t make a new album. I thought that expressing who I am frankly was the right way.”
The new album is the one he “personally really likes”. “I feel very much fulfilled about this album. I even don’t care even if it doesn’t receive a good response. I put the music which I can do now into the album. I present a new TAEYANG in the album, but you can also see original TAEYANG, too. I hope my fans also feel that this album is necessary when my singing career is seen from a bigger picture.”
2013. 11. 12.
